Wheel structure



June 29, 194s. G; A, LYON 2,444,053

WHEEL STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 51, 1943 Patented June 29, 1948 UNITED STATESl PATENT` OFFICE WHEEL STRUCTURE George Albert Lyon, Allenhurst, N. J.

Application December 31, 1943, Serial No. 516,326

13 Claims. 1

This invention is directed to an improved wheel structure and relates more particularly to an improved cover assembly therefor.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide improved retaining means for maintaining a wheel cover over the outer side of the wheel structure with which it is associated.

It is still another important object of the present invention `to `provide retaining means `for maintaining a cover over the outer side of a Wheel structure, said retaining means also aiding in maintaining the cover parts as a unitary assembly therewith.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for disposition over the outerside of a wheel structure, a cover assembly including a radially outer part having a radially `outer portion formed from synthetic sheet plastic material whereby it is self-sustaining as to form and yet locally, temporarily, resiliently flexible thereby to immediately snap back into initial configuration when distorting pressures are relieved therefrom said cover being arranged over the outer side of the tire rim of a wheel with which it is-associated and having a cross-sectional configuration whereby it substantially conforms to the side wall of a tire in the rim, thereby to give the appearanceof being a continuation thereof and to appear as a white side wall of the tire when colored white, this cover part being secured to suitable Aretaining means and, if desired, toa complementary cover portion as a unitary structure with these other parts whereby the entire multi-part cover assembly is, in effect, a unitary'structure to the wheel as removable from and attachable aunit.

Still another object of the present invention is to p-rovide a cover assembly disposed over the outer side thereof, a portion of this cover assembly being formed from sheet synthetic plastic material or the like whereby any color or hue im.-

parted thereto extends throughout the depth of the cover and is not, therefore, removed by abrasion or scratching 4or the like and whereby the cover member andfparticularly the radially outer portion thereof is locally flexible and extends radially outwardly to the edge portion of a flanged tire rim on the wheel with which it is associated thereby to be axially outwardly flexible relative to the wheel to permit the outward passage of dirt and moisture collecting behind the cover, underthe influence of centrifugal forces during operation of the wheel. v

In accordance with the general features of the present invention there iszprovided herein for ,2 disposition over the outer side of a wheel structure including a anged tire rim of the drop center type and a central load bearing portion which is secured thereto, a cover assembly including a radially outer annular part formed from synthetic plastic sheet material whereby it is temporarily, locally, resiliently exible and also including a central, circular hub cap simulating part which, while it may be formed from the same material as the radially outer-cover part, is `preferably formed from more rigid material such as sheet stainless steel or the like, there also being provided retaining means having an axially inwardly extending resilient part arranged for detachable engagement with the` wheel and an axially outer part formed t0 conform to the configuration of and lie in surface engagement with a marginal portion of the plastic cover, this relationship between the plastic cover and the retaining means being securely retained by envelopment of the adjacent edge of the complementary cover member therearound,

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention there is provided herein a cover assembly in which the radially inner margin of the 'an-l nular plastic cover member is disposed in surface engagement with the ra-dially outer margin ofV the circular cover member, these marginal parts in turn being disposed in nested relationship securely against a flange of the retaining member.

In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention there is provided herein a construction wherein the adjacent margins of the cover and the retaining means are secured together by an annular, rlgidifying, ornamentlng edge piece having U-shaped cross-section and enveloping theadjacent marginal portions of the other parts.

Many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying ldrawings in which: i

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a wheel structure embodying one form of my invention lwith parts broken away for illustrative purposes;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, crosssectional view of a wheel structure embodying the invention shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a wheel structure embodying still another form of my invention; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, crosssectional view of a wheel structure embodying a further modie-d form of my invention.

It will be understood that theembodiments axially inwardly extending peripheral flange lia,

thereon. These flanges may be secured together as by welding or riveting or the like. The central load bearing portion I2 is further provided with an inwardly extending bolt-on flange i3 which is formed to receive wheel bolts whereby the wheel may be secured to an appropriate part of the vehicle such as the brake drum or the like.

The tire rim il] is further provided with'opposite side wall flanges l, opposite intermediate flanges l5 and opposite .edge portions l5 between which may be disposed a tire Il having an inner tube I8 provided with a valve stem i9; The valve stem I9; as will be seen, extends through an aperture inthe respective side wall flange lll, thereby to' be available for application `of 'the nozzle of an air `hose theretofor inflation of the tire in a manner `to be'presently described.

The cover assembly shown herein, particularly in Figure 2', includes a' radially outer cover portion" 20' ,formed Yof synthetic plastic material whereby it possesses the above mentioned attributes, and a centralcircular hub cap simulating cover portion 2l. Preferably the cover portion 2| 'is formed from-a more rigid material such as sheet stainless steel or the like, whereby it `may be' either colored or given aI high luster, thereby toaugment the ornamentall appearance of the assembly generally. As will be seen, the cover member 2liy is provided at its radiallyv outer edge with an outwardly extending flange 22 which extends beyond the edge portion l't'o conceal the junction between the edge portion of the rim lll and the tire Il. The cover member 2i) also ex tends radially inwardly to a point beyond the junction' ofthe tire rim and theA ycentral load bearing portion and is further provided with a cross-sectional configuration substantially sinnv-r lating the shape offthe side wall of a tire l?, thereby t'o give the appearance of'being a con.- tinuation thereof.

The cover memberl is further provided with a ilange 23 at the radially inner margin-thereof, thisfiange being adapted tolle insurf'ace abutment with a radially inwardly, axially inwardly, obliquely disposediinger 2t' of airetaining annullus ZE It will'be'understood that the retain-ing annulus'2`5'-may if desired, be in the form of a pluralityl of circumferentially` spaced spring clip members.

The annulus Zisfurther provided with a radially inwardly, axially outwardly, obliquely disposedresilient portion 26 connected toan axially extending arm 2'! by means oi a radially outwardly peaked portion'which serves as apryoilanchorage, the arm 27 in turnterminating axiallyinwardlyin'a bumped or terminal'pcrtion Zd'which is arranged to resiliently engage'behind the inner sides ofprotuberanc'es 3Q deformed' out of the material of the'tire-rim at the axially outer side of the' base flange il thereof. It will` be seen thaty these protube'rances`,lill` provide also, radially outwardly opening 'indentations at thev inner side of theY tire rim'for receiving portions of' the innery tubelfwhen'` the latter is inflated,- whereby tcv prevent thetube-frornv rotatingrelative to the wheel.

To the end that the flange 23 of the cover member 20 and the terminal portion 2A of the retaining member may be securely retained in the suriace engagement above described. The central circular hub cap simulating cover member is provided at a radially outer part thereof with a flange 3i which is disposed radially inwardly, axially inwardly and obliquely to lie in suriace engagement with the flange 23 of the cover member 20; The-flange 3iy of the cover member 2i merges into an edge enveloping flange 32; which in turn terminates in a flange 3&5 which, under the influence of a suitable rolling operation is Icompressed toward the flange 3l with the flanges 23 and 2d therebetween to provide the secure interlocking relationship shown in Figure 2.

When the cover members 2) and 2l and the retaining member 25 are secured together as above described and as shown in Figure 2, it will be understood that they constitute a unitary structure which, as a unit, may be removed from and attached to the wheel structure.

In attaching the covervassembly above described to the wheel structure it will be seen that it is merely necessary for the operator to align the same concentrcally with the wheel whereupon axial inward movement of the cover assembly results in resilient engagement of the humped portion 23 of the retaining member 25 behind the shoulders formed by the protuberances 30 on the Wheel.

In order to remove the cover assembly from the wheel structure and in order to render the tire valve stem I9 accessible for application of the nozzle 0f an air hose thereto, it is merely necessaryfor the operator, by manual manipulation, to flex the adjacent portion of the' cover member 2D radially outwardly, whereupon the air hose may be attached to the tire valve stem i9 or if the flexing is for the purpose, of removing the cover, the operatorvneed merely insert the point of a pry-off tool behind the circular peak 28 and, with the edge portion I6 of the tire rim lll as a fulcru-m, draw the cover assembly axially outwardly of the wheel structure.

In the construction of Figure 3 the cover assembly includes an annular plastic cover 3ft having a radially inner flange 35. This ange is arranged to lie in surface engagement with a flange 36 ofthe central circular hub cap simulating cover portion. 3l. It will be understood that in the constructions of either Figure 2 or Figure 3,k

the central circular hub cap portions 2| and 3l may be replaced by a relatively narrow annular wheel ornamenting bead, the radially outer portion or the bead being formed as shown herein to accomplish the-same purposes.

In the construction of Figurey 3 the retaining annulus SSA includes anaxially inwardlyextending resilientportion 39 terminatingv in a snap-on bead 40a which cooperates with the protuberances 30 as explained in conjunction with Figurev 2. This axially inwardlyI extending portion 39 ter'- minatesin a radially outwardly extendingv peak 40- which in turn merges into a' radially inwardly extending flange M. The flange 4l, as will be seen clearly from the drawings, terminates in a curved portion l2 which normally abuts the adjacentportion of the outer surface ofthe central load bearing portion I2 of the wheel, thisv curved portion 42 serving as the junction between the flange 4I and a, terminal flange 43 which is disposed radially outwardly, axially outwardly and obliq'ucly to' conform to flanges 35- and 36 of the covermembers' 34 and 31respectively.' As will be seen from Figure 3, when the parts are in their ultimate position the cover members are securely and permanently retained upon the retaining member 38 to be associated therewith as a unit which may be attached to and detached from the wheelstructure. Preferably the flange 43 is initially in an axially outwardly extending position, whereupon the cover members are disposed against one another and the edges thereof are forced against the radially inner end of the flange 4| of the retaining member 3S, whereupon by means of a rolling operation, the flange 43 is deformed to the position shown so that the cover parts may not be drawn axially outwardly thereof. In applying the cover assembly of Figure 3 to the Wheel it will be seen that it is merely necessary for the operator to align the cover assembly concentrically with the wheel and force the same axially inwardly whereupon the bead 40a is deformed from its circular condition by the humps 30 until it has passed the protuberances, whereupon it assumes its round configuration and holds the cover assembly tightly upon the wheel structure.

In order to remove the construction of Figure 3 from the wheel, it is merely necessary for the operator to deflect a portion of the cover member 34 radially outwardly and then linsert the point of a pry-off tool behind the peak 40. Thereafter with the edge portion I6 of the tire rim as a fulcrum, the operator merely raises the outer part of the tool thereby drawing the cover assembly away from the respective humps 30.

In the construction of Figure 4, the plastic cover member 44 is similar to those previously described and has the attributes thereof. `In this construction the only difference in the cover member is that the radially inner margin thereof extends substantially radially inwardly as shown at 45. Likewise the retaining member 46 is provided with a terminal margin 4l which lies in surface abutment with the flange 45 of the cover 44. The flanges when disposed in this position are secured together by a relatively rigid annulus 48 which is preferably formed from sheet stainless steel, thereby to impart a lustrous or colored border for the cover 44.

From Figure 4 it will be seen that the annulus 48 is provided with a substantially radially outwardly opening U-shaped cross-sectional configuration and that the flanges 45 and 4,1 are Adisposed within the opening thereof, whereby, by means of a rolling operation, the arms 49 and 50 of the annulus 48 may be pressed together by a rolling operation to tightly engage the cover and the retaining member together.

In this construction the retaining member 46 differs from that shown in Figure 3 principally in that the arm 5| thereof extends obliquely,

`radially outwardly and axially outwardly toward an intermediate part of the cover 44. This portion 5| terminates in a portion 52 which is disposed against the inner surface of the adjacent portion of the cover 44 and conforms to the configuration thereof, thereby to provide a substanltially rigid backing for this portion of the cover.

The retaining member 46 of Figure 4 is further provided with a radially outwardly extending peak 53 which merges with an axially inwardly extending flange 54 which in turnterminates in a snap-on bead 55. It will be seen that the peak 53 and the bead 55 serve the same purposes as the peak 40 and snap-on bead 40a of Figure 3.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is provided herein a novel cover assembly which,

though formed from a plurality of cover parts, is maintained as a unitary structure, together with suitable retaining'means` for attaching the cover assembly to the wheel structure. l It will be understood that while protuberances 30 have been shown herein as the retaining means on the wheel structure, any suitable arrangement may be provided on the wheel for receiving the axially inner extremity of the respective retaining members shown. What I claim is: l. In a wheel structure including a flanged tire rim and acentral load bearing eportion, a cover assembly including a radially outer cover portion formed from synthetic plastic sheet material and extending over the flanges of the tire rim to conceal the same, said cover` portion having a crosssectional configuration generally simulating the side wall of a tire in the tire rim to give the appearance of being a part thereof and including a radially inner marginal flanged portion, retaining means for maintaining the cover over the outer side of the wheel structure in detachable relationship thereto including a wheel engaging portion and an axially outer portion formed to provide a flange disposed to conform to the position of the flange at the radially inner portion of the cover, and a circular member having a sub` stantially U-shaped conformation enveloping said flanges to hold them in Ysecure relationship to one another to maintain the cover and the retaining member together as a unit. 2. In a wheel structure including a flanged tire rim and a central load bearing portion, a cover assembly including a radially outer cover portion formed from synthetic plastic sheet material and extending over the flanges of the tire rim to concoal the same, said cover portion having a crosssectional conguration generally simulating the side wall of a tire in the tire rim to give the appearance of being a, :part thereof and including a radially inner marginal flanged portion, retaining means for maintaining the cover over the outer side of the wheel structure in detachable relationship thereto including a. wheel engaging portion and an axially outer portion formed to provide a iiange disposed to conform to the position of the ange at the radially inner portion of the cover, said flanges being held in secure relationship to one another to maintain the cover and the retain-ing member `together as a unit, said cover assembly also including a central circular hub cafp simulating cover portion provided at the radially outer margin thereof with a portion having a U-shaped configuration adapted to receive the flange of said first named cover andof said retaining means in enveloped relationship, thereby to secure said cover parts and said retaining means together as a `unitary structure.

3. As an article of manufacture for disposition over the outer side of a wheel structure having a. flanged tire rim and a central load bearing portion, a cover assembly including a circular cover member having a marginal flange, retaining means for maintaining the cover over the outer side of a wheel with which it is associated, said retaining means including an axially inwardly extending wheel engaging portion and anaxially outwardly disposed cover retaining portion, said last named portion including a U-shaped flange arranged to receivethe fiangeof the cover in surface abutment and for maintaining said flange of the cover in secure, retained surface abutment with sai-d retaining means, the junction of said portions being formed into a peak portion acces-V sible' fromA the rearside'` of said-1 cover member` for engagement byl a l.pry off tool.

4; In a wheel structure including, a ilanged tirel rim and a central load bearing portion secured thereto,v a cover assembly including a radially outer annular partform'ed fromsheet synthetic plastic materiaL-thereby to be self-sustaining as to'form and yet locally, temporarily, resiliently flexible so as toA immediately snap back to-initial configuration upon release of distorting pressures therefrom, said cover having a* generally radially inwardly, axially4 inwardly, obliqnely disposed flange at the radially inner margin thereof, acentralcircular hub capsimulating member having a crowned central portion and provided at the radially outer margin thereof with a generally axially inwardly, radially inwardly, obliquely disposedflange arranged for complementary, interitting engagement with the flange on said outer cover member and retaining means for maintaining said cover members together as a unitary structure and for securing the same detachably tothe-wheel structure,- said retaining` means including an axially inwardly extending part adapted for detachable engagement withr the wheel'st-ructure and an axially outer part formed to provide a generally axially outwardly, radially outwardly, obliquely disposed flange behind which the flanges of said cover members may be disposed, thereby to retain the cover members and the retaining means together as a unitary structure.

5. In a wheel structure including a flanged tire rim and a central load bearing portion secured thereto, a circular cover assembly including a radially outer annular part formed from sheet synthetic plastic material, said cover being provid'ed with a generally radially inwardly extending peripheral flange at the radially inner margin thereof, retaining means for maintaining Ithe cover over the outer side of the wheel structure including an axially inwardly extending portion arranged for detachable engagement with the wheel structure and an axially outer part including a portion arranged to lie in surface engagement with the portion of the cover immediately radially outwardly of the radially extending flange thereon, said retaining means terminating axially outwardly in a generally radially extending flange arranged to be disposed in sur-face engagement with the flange of the cover, and means for securing said retainingv means and said cover together, including an annular, relatively rigid member having U-shaped cross-sectional configuration, said annular member affording a radially outwardly opening groove into which said flanges of the cover and the retaining means may be disposed, the sides of said annular member being adapted to be compressed against the said flanges to hold the same together, said shoulder comprising annular flanges engaging and on opposite sides o'f an inner margin of said annulus for confining and'backing'up said margin on both of its sides.

, 6. In a wheel structure including a flanged tire rim and a central load bearing portion secured thereto, a circular cover assembly including a radially outer annular part formed from sheet eff' tliefcover, andmeans:4 for securing said?. retaining; means and said cover together? including I ain' annular, ,relatively rigidmember having?` UF-shaped cross-sectional configuration, said annularv inem'- be'r affording, af radially outwardly openingigro'ove into which said" flanges of the cover andthe r'etaining means may be disposed, thelsidesriofsaid annular member being: adapted to be compressed against said flanges to holdf the-samer together.

7a In a cover structurefo-r a wheel including flanged tire rim and body parts, a cover comprising aE radially outer annulus of resilient-ly yieldable material andfformed to substantially conceal cuterl side flangesof the rim-part', a central cir'- clllar metallic member opposite the bodypart and means `for fastening-'an inner edge of said annulus to-an outer portion of said circular-member and including axially rearwardly projecting: means for snap'on cover retaining engagement-withone of said parts,- saidmeansl including an' annular shoulder `'concealed by said` annulus and engageable by a pryv offl tool insertable behind' said` annulus upon=the flexing of said annul'us away from said rim, said shoulder comprising annular flanges engaging and on` cpposite'sides of an inner margin of. said annulus for confining andv backing upfsaid-margin on both ofv its sides;

8f A Wheel structure according to'claim 21where said retaining'means has a epry-offformationI arranged-tube engaged by a pry-offtool after said outer cover portion is flexed outwardly for access to said pry-olf formation;

9. Ina wheel structure including tire rim anda central road bearing portion, a cover assembly including a radially outer cover portion extending over the outer side of the tire rimA to conceal the same and including' aradially inner marginal flanged portion, retaining means for retaining the cover over the outer side of the wheel structure in detachable relationship thereto-including a wheel-engaging portionv and a portion for-med to: provide aflange disposed to conformto'the position of the flange at the radially inner portion of the cover, said assembly also including al centrair circular hub-cap-simulatingcover portion provided at the radially outer margin thereof with a portion having a U-slnapedA configuration adapted to=receive the radially inner ilangedportion of' said ilrst-namedcover and said flange of saidl retainingv means and inn enveloped relationship, thereby to secure said coveryparts andsaid retaining means together as a unitary structure.Y

10.111 a wheel structure including a tirek rim and alcentralload bearing portion, ay cover assembly including a radially outercover portion extending over the tire rim=to concealftlie same and including aradially inner marginal flangedportion, retaining means-for maintaining the cover over the outerfside of the Wheel struc-ture in detachable relationship thereto'including a wheel-engaging portion-and a; portionformedfto provide a; flange dis-posedftoconform to the position'of theflange at theradially inner portion of the cover, said cover assembly also including a circular member N5y providing a portion having a U -shaped configurasynthetic plastic material, said cover being p'rovided with a generally radially inwardly extending peripheral flange at the radially inner margin thereof, retaining means lfor maintaining the cover over the outer side of the Wheel structure including' an axially inwardly extending portion `arrangedfor detachable engagement with the wheel structure andan axially outer part arranged to be disposedvv in surface. engagement` with the flange tionL adapted to receive" the flanges-of said first named cover and of said retaining means inenveloped relationship, thereby to secure' said cover part and said retaining means together as a unitary structure.

il. As an article of manufacture for disposition over the outer side-of a wheelfstructurefhav'- inga= tire rinranda central load=bearingportion; a cover assembly including three circular members', one'of' said membershaving asubstantially U-shaped configuration in which the remaining two members are received and thereby securing all three members into a unitary structure, said members comprising an outer member for disposition over the tire rim, a retaining member for maintaining the assembly in place on the wheel, and an innermember, said retaining member being concealed behind said outer and inner members.

12. The article of claim 1l further characterized in that the outer member may be made from a sheet containing plastic material which is selfsustaining as to form and yet locally, temporarily resiliently eXible so as to immediately snap back to initial configuration upon release of distorting pressures therefrom and is adapted to be manually deflected away from the tire rim swingably outwardly about the connection with the other members thereby to expose said retaining member, said retaining member being formed with a generally radially projecting pry-off shoulder dis- Iposed for engagement by a pry-o tool for disengaging it from the Wheel.

13. In a cover structure for a wheel including a tire rim and a body part, a cover comprising a 25 2,368,245

radially outer annulus of resiliently yieldable material and formed to substantially conceal the outer side of the rim, an inner circular metallic member opposite the body part, and a member including axially rearwardly projecting means for `snap-on cover retaining engagement with one of the wheel parts, one of said members having means thereon connecting all three members into a unit, said retaining member including a shoulder concealed by said annulus and engageable by a pry-off tool insertable behind said annulus upon the flexing of said annulus away from said rim.

i GEORGE ALBERT LYON.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,234,387 Pugh July 24, 1917 2,212,038 Lyon Aug. 20, 1940 2,279,331 Lyon Apr. 14, 1942 2,306,631 Lyon Dec. 29, 1942 Lyon Jan. 30, 1945 

